Radiation spikes detected at O’Hare

Radiation spikes detected at O’Hare International Airport in the last 24 hours were found on cargo arriving from Japan, according to security officials.

The levels were not deemed to be harmful, but were enough to trigger radiation detection devices worn by customs and security agents at the airport. No passengers triggered the detectors, officials from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office said. No one was quarantined and no aircraft were taken out of service.

Customs officials said the levels of radiation spikes were within the ranges they normally see throughout the course of a year. All airport customs agents are outfitted with Personal Radiation Detectors and all airports have Radiation Isotope Identification Devices that determine both the presence and type of radiation encountered.

Last year, there were 580,000 radiation spikes detected at U.S. airports, according to customs officials. None were considered harmful. Individuals who might have recently undergone a surgical procedure are capable of causing a radioactive spike that would be detected by the devices, customs officials in Washington, D.C., reported.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is the lead agency dealing with the issue, Chicago Aviation Department officials said.

Several Japanese nuclear reactors have let out radioactive material following last week’s earthquake and tsunami.

“We’re aware that officials from customs and border protection have been taking additional measures to ensure the safety and health concerns of passengers,” said Eve Rodriguez, an aviation department spokeswoman.

Peter Caracappa, a radiation safety officer at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, said the federal safety measures in place are sufficient.

“There’s nothing to suggest there’s any reason to stop allowing flights in from Japan,” he said.

Customs officials said all maritime and air traffic from Japan would be specifically monitored for radioactive spikes. No aircraft entering the U.S. has tested positive for radiation at harmful levels, customs officials said. Spikes at other airports across the country were also reported.